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Natrolite (rare pink color) (''Pink Larimar'')
- Nusa Kambangan, Central Java, Indonesia
- Gems, 30.79 mm x 22.27 mm, 20.40 ct
- Start Time: 10/24/2024 8:00:00 pm (CDT)
- End Time: 10/31/2024 7:00:00 pm (CDT)
- Auction Closed
- Winning Bid: $35
Item Description
Natrolite is a zeolite mineral, and it truly isn't often seen in the gem/lapidary world. This is partially due to the fact that only a few localities produce anything of real interest or value in lapidary terms, but Natrolite also is typically devoid of color. This stone comes from an exciting discovery in 2020, where beautiful pinkish colored Natrolites were found in a basalt deposit on the island of Nusa Kambangan in Central Java, Indonesia. This material at first glance reminded some of the famous Thomsonite specimens from the Great Lakes in the United States, and when the material was polished it very closely resembled the patterns seen in the famous Larimar stones from the Dominican Republic (which are actually Pectolite). A quick analysis via Raman Spectroscopy revealed that these Indonesian gems are in fact Natrolite, which makes them unlike any other Natrolites that I've seen. Due to the similarity in style to Larimar, we immediately saw somebody apply the trade name "Pink Larimar", to this material, and then the term "Rhodatrolite," ("Rose Natrolite") popped up online. With that said, we're simply calling this material Natrolite, because that's what it is, and it doesn't need a trendy trade name to sell it, because Natrolite of this style and color is already rare and interesting enough. This "Oval Cabochon" cut gem has a beautiful pattern on the surface that almsot looks like leopard spots or tortoise shell. In reflected light, the color is a "burnt pink" hue, but when the stone is backlit, it shows a beautiful creamy color. These are new, rare and interesting, and if you collect gemstones, it's a must have for your collection, because we don't know how many of them there will be going forward. The deposit could last for years, or it could dwindle as quickly as it was discovered.
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Bidding History
Bid Amount | Bid Time |
---|---|
$35 | 10/31/2024 6:34:04 pm (CDT) |
$30 | 10/29/2024 8:30:04 pm (CDT) |
$25 | 10/27/2024 1:07:16 pm (CDT) |